IDC offer free or discounted places to end-users at their conferences subject to validation. In the process of validating end user status IDC will use the following criteria:
End users are considered to be IT professionals for example CIO, IT Director, IT Manager, Network specialist. These people will be responsible for their organisation’s own internal systems and will not provide services, advice or products to other organisations. Proof of employment will be required to complete the validation process for example:
- Web site address
- Business card
- Company Security entrance card
- Company letterhead
NB
Where an IT professional works for an IT vendor company it is at the discretion of IDC to allow free or discounted attendance to this person.
If a person is employed by an IT or telecommunications vendor or consultant, and does not operate as an internal systems specialist, this person will be viewed as an IT vendor and not eligible for free attendance.
For example: Marketing Manager, Product development, Partnership development, Sales, Business development
As a general rule 3rd party consultants will be viewed as IT vendors. Although they may be attending the conference as information gatherers and not in a sales capacity they are not in a position to purchase products or services from sponsoring organisations and as such will not qualify for free attendance. In this instance a 50% discount may be applied at the discretion of IDC.
